As the Houthi threat to international shipping grows ever more serious - most recently with the sinking of two Greek vessels, killing three sailors and leaving twelve missing - there has been little substantial reaction from major world powers.

In 2023, the Philippine coast guard accused its Chinese counterpart of deploying a high-powered laser against one of its ships near the Philippine-controlled Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, "causing temporary blindness" to some crew members. China routinely denies the accusations.